WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Safety Council applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) release of a new female crash test dummy design that addresses the ongoing trend of higher crash injury and fatality rates among women than men.

The advanced design better represents women’s body types, enabling improved assessment of injury risk for small female occupants and ultimately resulting in more effective safety features in cars.

"The National Safety Council applauds USDOT for releasing a female crash test dummy design that will make car travel safer for women,” said Lorraine Martin, CEO of the National Safety Council. “Women continue to suffer higher rates of crash fatality and serious injury compared to men, despite being less likely to get into fatal crashes than men. This new vehicle crash test device is a breakthrough in efforts to close the safety gap for female vehicle occupants that has persisted for far too long.”

NSC has long supported efforts to modernize crash testing and ensure vehicle safety standards reflect real-world crash data for everyone on the road.

NSC publicly supports Sen. Deb Fischer’s (R-NE) bipartisan She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety (She DRIVES) Act. The legislation would require use of the most advanced crash test devices available, including female crash test dummies, and update U.S. crashworthiness testing procedures.